St Patrick’s Day in Dublin: The Best Things to Do, Where to Stay and Where to Dine

A Local Guide to St Patrick’s Day in Dublin

St Patrick’s Day in Dublin is not a single event. It is a multi-day, citywide cultural festival that blends heritage, performance, music, food and public celebration into one of Europe’s most distinctive urban experiences. Each year, visitors travel to the city for the parade, but what defines the weekend is the wider festival ecosystem that surrounds it. This guide sets out what happens in Dublin on St Patrick’s Day, where the main events take place, how to navigate the city, and how to plan your stay around the celebrations

What happens in Dublin on St. Patricks day?

Dublin becomes the focal point of Ireland’s national celebrations, bringing together the official parade with a broader programme of cultural events across the city.

Highlights typically include:

• The National St Patrick’s Day Parade
• A multi-day festival programme across central Dublin
• Live music and traditional Irish sessions
• Street theatre, performance art and cultural showcases
• Family-focused activities and public installations
• Extended hospitality, dining and nightlife throughout the city centre

Rather than a single event, St Patrick’s Day in Dublin unfolds as a citywide experience. The parade provides the focal point, but the atmosphere is shaped by activity across multiple districts, venues and public spaces, creating a continuous flow of celebration throughout the day and into the night.

Where is the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin?

The National St Patrick’s Day Parade follows a central route through the heart of the city, beginning at Parnell Square, travelling down O’Connell Street, crossing O’Connell Bridge and continuing through the south city centre towards the Kevin Street and Cuffe Street area.

Because the route cuts directly through Dublin’s core districts, staying in a central, walkable location becomes especially valuable during the celebrations, allowing visitors to move easily between viewing points, dining areas and evening events.

The parade also forms part of the wider St Patrick’s Festival Dublin, which runs across several days and multiple locations, extending the celebrations well beyond the main event itself.

Experiencing the City beyond the parade

Much of what defines St Patrick’s Day in Dublin unfolds away from the formal programme. Traditional music drifts through pubs and side streets, small performances surface in unexpected corners, and the city’s streets gradually become shared social spaces. Moving between neighbourhoods, pausing in familiar places, and discovering new venues often becomes as meaningful as attending the headline events themselves.

Some of the city’s most atmospheric experiences tend to happen in established pubs where music, conversation and community blend naturally into the celebrations, including:

• The Long Hall on South Great George’s Street, known for its traditional interiors and live music
• Kehoe’s Pub near Grafton Street, a long-standing spot for informal trad sessions
• The Cobblestone, widely regarded for its authentic Irish music culture
• O’Donoghue’s, closely associated with Dublin’s folk music heritage

Stay central. Experience more.

St Patrick’s Day in Dublin is at its best when the city itself becomes the venue. Central location, walkability and access to culture, dining and celebration shape the experience as much as any single event.

https://www.mercantilehotel.ie/The Mercantile Hotel offers a city-centre base for visitors who want to experience the full rhythm of the festival, from parade to performance, from dining to nightlife. With direct access to Dublin’s core districts, cultural spaces and social hubs, it allows guests to experience St Patrick’s Day not as a single moment, but as a complete city experience.